Metal barge



l. L. TAYLOR.

METAL BARGE.

APPLICATION FILED 050.20. 1917.

1,338,712. Patlld May 4, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESS S INVENTOR l. L. TAYLOR.

METAL BARGE.

APPLICATION FILED'DECJO. 1911.

Patent-@a my4,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR 1. L. TAYLOR.

METAL BARGE.

APPLICATION FILED Brazo, 19u.

Patented May4,1920.

has

FIG.12

FIG. 13

WEE-fil ESSESA 9 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. TAYLOR, OF OAKMONT. PENNSYLVANIA.

METAL BARGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1920.

Application led December 20. 1917. Serial No. 208,152.

My invention relates to the construction of barges, boats, pontoons or other open or decked floating craft, used in conveying merchandise, coal, sand and like materials or products, both packaged and in bulk.

. Such vessels have been generally. formedA of wood heretofore. In cases where metal has been used the flat metal plates employed to form the sides and bottom necessitate the use of a large number of sti-i'eners, and the necessary number ofstiffeners adds to the weight and decreases the carrying capacity of the craft While the short distance between the stiffeners interferes seriously with the unloading operations in removing bulk cargoes such asv coal or 'sand where a grab bucket is employed in discharging the cargo.

In a barge formed in the usual manner with wooden dunnage, it becomes necessary to remove the dunnage several times during the life of the barge, and at intervals not exceeding two years it is necessary to remove the dunnage in order to clean and paint the barge bottom.'

In a metal barge having a wooden dunnage and lengaged in carrying cargoesV such as coal or sand, finely divided parts of the materials will drop between the cracks formed by the alternate wetting and drying of the dunnage, so that the 'space between the bottom plating and the wooden dunnage soon becomes filled, which results in a material reduction in cargo carrying capacity.

The primary object of this invention is the provisionof an open barge having a bottom constructed in such manner that the cargo can be loaded directly upon the bottom plating and the necessity of using ythe Wooden dunnage usually employed in a steel bage lof ordinarymconstruction is avoided an OVeI'COmB.

Another object of my invention is to proand resultant lincrease in carrying capacity on a given draft or reduction in draft in car rying a given weight. f

A further object of the invention is the provision in a metal barge of a corrugated plating of improved construction and disposed in a novel manner whereby fastening of the corrugated plating to the framing of the barge is facilitated.

A further object of this invention is to provide a barge in which the number of rivets used in fabricating the craft .is reduced to a large extent, leakage or liability of leakage is lessened, the cost of upkeep is reduced and the life of the craft is lengthened.

Another object of my invention is to provide a barge construction whereby the numberof necessary bottoni stiffeningmembers is greatly reduced. liability of engagement of the stiffening members by grab buckets employed in unloading operations is avoided and consequent injury .or damage to the barge thereby overcome and prevented.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a barge, the cargo of Which can be entirely remo ved down to the bottom plating by ordinary unloadingmethods.

Still further objects of my invention will become apparent as the invention is more fully disclosed hereinafter.

Referring now to the drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a plan showing the left hand half of a barge framed of metal and constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention, the barge being symmetrical about the line I-I.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation ofthe part of the barge shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken on the line II-II of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the irregular line III-III of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3, showing details in the construction of the transverses used in the construction of Figs. 1,2, and 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan showing half of the length of a modified construction, the barge `being symmetrical about the line V-V- Fig. 6 is'a side elevation or outboard profile of the barge shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the irregular line VII-VII of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevation showing the construction of the rake ends of the barge of Figs. 5, 6, and 7. I

Fig. 9 is a transverse section of a barge having corrugated plates forlning the sides as well as the bottom thereof.

Fig. 10 is a sectional side elevation of a portion of the barge construction of Fig. 9, the section being taken on the line X-X of Fig. 9, and showing the construction of the vtransverses and of the diagonal bracing employed to take the shear on the corrugated metal side plating of the barge.

Fig. 11 is a transverse section of a barge having a deck, the left hand half of this figure showing the diagonal bracing forming part of the deck supporting meansand the right hand half showing the construction of the decked barge having transverse water tight bulkheads.

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of a portion vof a barge, this section being taken on the line XII-XII of Fig. 1l.

Fig. 13 is an end elevation showing a prefer-red form of-coirugated plate used in making barges in accordance with my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, a barge having vertical sides 2 and rake ends 3 formed of flat plates and a bottom i formed of corrugated plates, is shown. Plating is provided at each end of the barge, which extends horizontally inward to form a deck 5 and which is joined to an inclined plating wall G so as to form a water tight bulkhead or compartment '7 in each end of the barge. The plates forming the rake ends of the barge are connected at their upper edges to a steel corner casting 8,. this castingbeing riveted at its ends to the plating .forming the sides 2-2 of the barge.

The bottom 4 is formed of a series of corrugated plates, the corrugations being formed of parallel fiat portions 9 and l() joined byjinclined portions 1l so as to be trough shaped in cross section, (see Figl) and the corrugations are disposed so as to extend vlengthwise pa allel with the length of the barge so as to form a strong, rigid bottom.

. These corrugated plates. as will be seen in Fig. 13, have a lip 11jrt on one edge which overlaps the opposite edge of an' adjoining corrugated plate, rivets being employed to fasten the overlapping edges together, in the usual manner 0f riveting.

, Transverses 12 are positioned at suitable intervals in the length of the barge, the transverses extending along 'its bottom from one side to the other of the barge. As shown, these transverses are formed of. two inclined sides 1313 which, with the bottoma of the barge, form water tight'compartments 1.4 of triangular cross section. the bottom. of the barge forming one side of the so-formed triangle. (See Fig. at)

In constructing the transverses 12 so asto form a water tight com oartanent,A a rolled.

steel angle 1.5 extends lengthwise from one side to the other oi' the barge at the apex of the transverses and. forms a convenient means for connecting the adjoining upper edges of the plates 12S-13 forming the inclined sides of the transverses. Angles 1G also are employed at intervals in the length of the plates 13 to form stifleners for the inclined sides of the transverses, the upper ends of these angles being connected together by gusset plates 17. Angles 18 are riveted to the lower edge of the side plates 13 and to the bottom plates 4c, one flange of these angles being bent to the same shape as the corrugated bottom plates to form an air and water tight joint. Joined by its lower edge to the upper edge or apex of each transverse 12 at each side of the .barge is a plate 19 (Fig. 4) forming a knee which is fastened to the side of the barge by meansof an angle 20. Stiffening angles 21 are secured to the inner inclined edge of the plate 19 in forming the knees.

Between the transverses 12 and also between the end transverses and the ends of the barge is a series of side s tiffeners 22-22 which, as shown, are conveniently formed of rolled metal angles. An angle 23 extends lengthwise along each side of the barge forming the knuckles to which the bottom edge of the side plating 2 and the outer edge of the corrugated bottom plating 4 are secured by rivets or equivalent fastening means.

Extending lengthwise at the upper edge of each side of the barge is a metal channel 24 having its flanges turned downward as shown, the'channels being riveted by one flange to the sides 2 of the barge. The upper ends of the knees formed by the plates 19 and angles 20-21 are fastened to the chalinels 24 and also the upper ends of the stiffeners 22, and the lower ends of the stiffeners 22 are secured to the bottom plating by means of angles or bent plates 25. Secured on top of each of the channels 24: and also on the upper edge of the castings 8 on the ends of the barge, is wooden planking 26 forming the gunwales of the barge.

In the sides of each of the hollow transverses 12 is a manhole having a water tight cover 27 (Fig. 4t.) and the horizontal plating forming the decks 5 at each end of the barge is provided with a manhole and a cover 28 (Fig. 1).

The barge is provided with the .Sual complement of towing bitts 29 and 30 on opposlite sides of each end thereof to provide means by which the barges are lashed or hitched together with the lines or ropes employed in making up a tow of barges. and the towing lines also are fastened to these bitts, when the barge is being towed from place to place.

h In the construction shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7,

and 8, of the drawings, the sides 2 and rake ends 3 are Jformed of`fia`t plates and the bottom plating 4 is corrugated, the bottom plating having latportions 9 vand 1() connected by inclined portions 11 formed in the same manner-.as in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. Secured on cach end of the transverses 3l, which are formed or rolled Lbeams, are knees 32 formed of' a web plate and angles 38, 34, and 35. Each end of the barge is provided with a horizontal deck 5 and sloping plating wall which serve to form a water and air tight compartment 7 in each end of the barge, and in this case diagonal bracing formed of angles 36 is also provided to stiifen the rake ends 3 and deck plating 5. and the plating 6. On each side of the barge, between the transverses 31 and also between the end transversesl and ends of the barge, are vertically extending channels 37 secured by one fiange to the side plating 2 to stiffen the sides of the barge. The channels 24 and the wooden planking 26 extending along the upper edge of the -barge sides forms the barge gunwales. and the upper ends of the knees 32 are fastened to the channels 24 as in Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4. Towing bitts 29 and 3() are secured to the gunwales, and a n1an hole having a cover 28 is formed in each of the decks The lower edge of the sides 2 are connected by knuckles 23 formed of angles on the edges of the corrugated bottom plating 4 of the barge, the angles 23, as shown, being placed on the outside of' the side and bottom plating.`

ln the construction of Figs. 9 and 10 the barge has corrugated plating made as shown in Fig. 13, to form the sides 2 as well as the corrugated plating forming the .bottom 4 ot' the barge. The rake ends may be formed either of corrugated or flat plates as is desired. Transverses 38 formed of I-beams and knees 32 formed in the same manner as in Fig. 7 are fastened to the bottom end of the side plating in the manner which has been described, and channels 24 with downwardly turned flanges are fastened to the side plating 2 and to the top of the knees 32. In this construction no vertically7 extending angle stif'leners are employed, the corrugated` side plating having sufiicient stiffness in itself and diagonally extending angles 40 (see Fig. 10) fastened to the corrugated side plating 2 between the trans verses 38 are provided to take the shearing strain on the sides 2 of the barge.

1n Figs. 11 and 12 a decked barge is shown. In this construction the barge has flat side plating 2 and corrugated bottoni plating 4, a round knuckle 41 being employed to connect the lower edge of the side plating with theladjacent edge of the corrugated bottom plating.

Transverses formed of channels 42 are employed at intervals in the length of the barge, these transverses being secured byl one flange to the corrugated bottom plating 4. A plate 43 and stiffener angles 44 and 45 are used at the sides 2 of the barge to connect the ends ot' the transverses 42 and sideplating 2.

At the upper ends of the vertical stiffeners formed by the plates 43 and angles 44, 44, a channel 4G is secured which extends from side to side of the barge, this channel being bent to the same cur fature as the deck of the barge, which is formed of yflat metal plates 47. A series of channels 4S which rest on the upper fiange of the curved channels 46 form deck beams for supporting the deck plating 4T and an angle 4f) at each upper edge of the barge sides is used to connect the side plating 2 and deck plating.

Struts 50 are used to connect the lower transverses 42 and top transverse channels 46, and diagonal bracing formed of angle bars 51--52 also is employed to connect the top channel and the transverses (as is shown on the left hand half of Fig. 11). At each end of the barge and at suitable intervals in the length of this barge ay bulkhead is formed of flat plates, which (as shown on the right handhalf of Fig. 11) extends from the deck plating 47 downwardly to the bottoni plating and from side to side of the barge so as to form water tight compart. ments at intervals in the length of the barge. The bottom angles 53 are bent t0 the contour or' the corrugated bottom plating so as to form a tight joint. Vertical stiffeners formed of angles 54 are used to stifl'cn the bulkhead. Between the transverses and between the water tight bulkheads, a series of angles 55 are used to form vertical stiffeners for the side plating, the lower ends of these stiffencr angles being fastened to the bottom plating andthe upper ends to the deck plating 47. lvlodifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts can be made without departing `from my invention. The barges may have c rrugated sides and bottom with a square knuckle shown in Fig. (3. The transverses of Fig. 7 may be employed in forming the barges of the other figures. The intermediate side stiffeners and the. horizontally extending stiffeners may be employed or not, as is desired. The water tight compartments in the ends of the barge. and the hollow transverses forming water tight compartments at intervals in the length of the barge may be employed or not. as is desired, 01' may be formed in, the luanner shown-in the other figures.k The corrugations may be terminated short of the rake ends of the barges, and other changes may be made within the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Corrugating the metal plating stiffens and and vrivets and in thev amount of riveting necessary also materially reduces the first cost of the fabricated structure. o

By forming the bottom of the barge of corrugated metal plates, the wooden dunnage, usually employed. is made unnecessary, and the presence of projections on the bottom of the barge liable to be engaged by y the grab buckets in leadingl and unloading,

is avoided.'

Having corrugated plating forming the l sides and bottom, such barges are lighter iri weight than barges of equal strength, as framed heretofore, and` barges constructed in accordance with my invention have a greater cargo ,carrying capacity, require less time in erecting, and the costl of making the barges is materially reduced. The construction of a metal barge having a corrugated bottom supplies the need for a light weight metal barge which is particularly adapted to the river carrying trade and which can be provided at a cost approximating that of wooden barges.

I claim l. In a barge or similar floating craft, the combination with a series of cross frames or transverses located at intervals .in the length of the barge, of a series of metal plates fastened to the cross frames and forming the sides and bottom of the barge, said bottom plates being corrugated longitudinally, and the eorrugations being formed of flat parallel top and bottom portions joined by inclined side portions and extending lengthwise parallel withv the length of the barge.

2. In a barge or similar floating craft` the combination with a series of cross frames or transverses located at intervals by inclined side portions andy extending v lengthwise parallel with the length of the barge.

In testimony whereof ha ve hereunto set my hand.

JOHN L. TAYLOR. 

